Philly to Get Two Screenings of Met Opera’s Otello Starring Renee Fleming


Jothan Botha and Renee Flemming in a scene from Verdi's "Otello."

Jothan Botha and Renee Flemming in a scene from Verdi’s “Otello.”

The Metropolitan Opera‘s lavish staging of Verdi’s Otello, staring legendary soprano Renee Fleming, will get two Philadelphia screenings as part of the opera company’s award-winning Live in HD Summer Encores program.  Philly residents can save a trip to New York by viewing the opera at 7PM on July 9 at the United Artists Riverview Stadium Theater (1400 S. Columbus Boulevard) or at the University City Penn 6 Theater (4012 Walnut Street).

The performance, which originally was screened in October 2012, stars Johan Botha as the title character, and features Renee Fleming in one her signature roles as the doomed Desdemona.  Opera insiders suggest that this 2012 stint for Fleming may have been the last time that the star soprano sang Desdemona in her career.

Verdi’s work is based on the Shakespeare tragedy of the same name, and has long been considered one of his greatest scores.  This particular production, staged by Elijah Moshinsky, was seen for the last time on the Met stage in 2013; it will be replaced by an all-new staging in 2015 lead by the Philadelphia Orchestra’s own Yannick Nezet-Seguin in the pit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-yFaD_cLZQ